Continuous scan tomosynthesis system and method

An imaging system for performing tomosynthesis on a region of an object, said imaging system comprising:

• an x-ray source positioned a predetermined distance from said object and continuously moving along a path relative to said object, said x-ray source transmitting x-ray radiation through said region of said object at a plurality predetermined locations along said path while said x-ray source is continuously moving along said path relative to said object;
• a motion controller coupled to the x-ray source and continuously moving said x-ray source along said path relative to said object wherein continuously moving said x-ray source minimizes vibration in said imaging system;
• wherein said motion controller moves said x-ray source at a first velocity at said plurality of predetermined locations along said path and said motion controller moves said x-ray source at a second velocity outside said plurality of predetermined locations along said path, wherein the velocity is not equal to the first velocity;
• an x-ray detector positioned a predetermined distance from said x-ray source, the x-ray detector detecting said x-ray radiation transmitted through said region of said object, said x-ray detector acquiring x-ray image data representative of said region of said object;
• and
• a processing unit coupled to said x-ray detector for processing said x-ray image data into at least one tomosynthesis image of said region of said object.